When I was writing about the whole thing regarding PDAs, some part of me – I swear – actually saw this coming.

In case you still have no idea what I’m saying, it’s about those damn news/blog reports you have been reading about this Chinese couple arrested for “allegedly holding hands and kissing” in KLCC. The report goes on to say that this sort of behaviour undermines our Asian value system and is simply not acceptable in Malaysia.

If one were to take the news reports and the case of these two university students at face value, the arrest really is unwarranted. On any given day, I would rather see young and elderly couples holding hands, staring into each other’s eyes with love and affection THAN to see a mother hit, yell and scold her children in public or a man lash out at his partner for something minor. Holding hands is a sign of affection and not a sign of lust. It is a simple gesture that warms the heart, and promotes both physical and emotional health. (Studies have shown that if a woman holds the hand of her partner, her blood pressure actually lowers and she feels more calm and at peace.)

If our Asian values are to be anything substantial, let it be one that preaches love, non-violence and respect to both men, women and children.

NOW, if the reports were examined and evidence on the contrary were to be found, then really, what were these two young people thinking? Yes, the Chief Justice is right to say that certain acts are not appropriate in public simply because they are meant to be done in the privacy of a bedroom/home. You certainly don’t pee in public unless you’re a child, ignorant of the whispers and stares given to you/your parent. Some people get offended but you get away with it as a kid. Try peeing as an adult in public and you may just very well get insults thrown back at you.

What a person does in public is reflective of his/her upbringing, religion, culture, principles and heritage. Contrary to public belief, PR is not just for companies but for individuals as well. Remember what I said earlier about how Asian values is about respect for men, women and children? Well, PDAs like tonsil hockey are hardly being respectful or considerate to people. And oh, if I’m a tourist, I really didn’t come all the way to Asia to get a free peep show. I came to experience the Asian way of life and by that, I didn’t mean the tonsil hockey, the groping under clothes business all done in broad daylight.

There is a reason as to why people come up with bedrooms and hotels. Make use of it.

Next thing is this: why the double standard in the way we treat tourists? Remember this saying?

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

We certainly don’t relax our laws for things like prostitution, child pornography (or at least *I* think so) and definitely, not for drugs. Why this? If tourists come here and act the way they did back at home without giving a damn about respect for other people’s cultures and practices, then frankly, we don’t need people like that. Why is it so difficult to get it straight out? What’s wrong with sticking to our principles? What’s wrong with saying:

“This is our way of doing it and if you can abide by it, then I’m sorry. No leeways.”

This is our house, damnit and instead of imposing one rule, you’re saying that it’s okay for a boy to eat, sleep and laze around but a girl has to work her ass off for everyone including that one damn bugger of a brother. What does this speak about your state of mind as the house owner?

Well, for starters, you are weak. You are desperate. You are a disgrace. To yourself. To your family. To the people of this country who have stuck to their guns for eons. The only way to get respect is to earn it and you don’t earn respect by imposing double standards. If every developed country were to do as what Malaysia does ALL the time, there wouldn’t be any developed countries around. You don’t see Singaporean imposing double standards on expatriates who go there and create trouble? (Remember Michael Fay, the American who was given four lashes of the cane for vandalism? Don’t see Singapore kow-towing to American request.)

Good lord man, this is your country, your home! Impose some rules but make sure that it’s not only for a group of people. That’s disciminatory, you know.

ps: Remember the dog incident in Shah Alam? How about cat owners? Why aren’t people walking up to the council demanding that cat owners get licenses and make sure that their cats don’t wander around, are housed properly, aren’t disease carriers, don’t breed like bunnies and shit all over the place plus am not a nuisance to everyone including drivers?